In beautiful Huntington Beach, California, a medium-sized community college called Golden West College is offering students a wonderful alternative to a traditional four-year university immediately after graduating high school. Many experts believe that students who pursue an associate’s degree at a two-year or other short-term community school have a better success rate than students who jump straight into a four-year program after graduation. Two-year colleges give students the chance to adjust to college life and the rigors of college-level coursework.
Golden West College boasts a top-tier faculty, a gorgeous location, and an outstanding academic curriculum that will help students jump-start their post-secondary education while simultaneously providing them with real-world assistance in developing productive study habits and time-management skills.
Because Golden West College offers only two-year programs of study, the highest degree that can be achieved at this institution is an associate’s degree. After students complete this degree, the admissions department at Golden West College will assist students in transferring their credits to a four-year institution. The fourteen thousand students at Golden West College are mostly local Californians transitioning from high school to a university.
The associate’s degrees offered at Golden West College range from automotive studies to math and sciences to English arts and legal arts. The fine arts are also featured at Golden West College where students can receive an associate’s degree in art, dance, theater and music. Several students at Golden West College opt to take a large portion of their college courses online. Golden West College’s website has extensive tutorials and explanations which detail the benefits of online courses as well as appropriate class techniques to ensure a student’s success through online study.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Golden West College.
The application process at Golden West College is very simple and easy-to-use. Application is open to anyone who is at least eighteen years of age and who has either completed high school or completed a high school equivalency test such as the GED. High school students who have completed the tenth grade and received written permission from both a parent and a high school principal or administrator can also begin taking college-level courses while still enrolled in high school.
To apply to Golden West College, students can either fill out an online application, mail in an application, or visit the admissions office in person to fill out an application. The online application is, by far, the easiest method to apply to Golden West College. Most students who apply to Golden West College are accepted if they have graduated from high school or taken an equivalence exam. After a student is admitted to Golden West, he or she must take several assessment courses before applying for classes. These assessments do not affect the student’s application status. Instead, they serve to place a student in the appropriate course for his or her experience level.
Financial Aid
Golden West College’s primary mission is to provide affordable post-secondary education and vocational training to students who would be otherwise unable to attend a college or vocational school. As such, Golden West College has one of the most efficient and helpful financial aid staffs in the state of California. Students who need financial aid because of economic disadvantage or hardship will find ample solutions in the financial aid office.
To apply for financial aid, students must first secure a PIN from the financial aid office. This PIN will allow students to fill out the FAFSA online and quickly receive information about the loans and grants available to help fund their college education. Golden West College accepts all forms of government loans and government grants as well as state government grants and many private loans. Education at Golden West College is very affordable.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Golden West College 3920th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best California scholarships and financial aid
Huntington Beach, California is only about half an hour south of bustling downtown Los Angeles. Students who attend Golden West College are guaranteed a semester of sunshine, surfing, sightseeing and superb night life. The city of Huntington Beach is famous for its nearly nine mile coast and excellent surfing conditions year round. Huntington Beach is the largest beach town in all of Orange County. With a large central park, an equestrian center, a monumental library with over five hundred thousand books, several live theaters, movie theaters, concert venues, and shopping, students at Golden West College in Huntington Beach will never be starved for entertainment.
With easy access to Los Angeles, students at Golden West College are also exposed to the whirlwind experience of glamorous Hollywood. Students can take in the incredible shopping, dining, and entertainment possibilities that Los Angeles offers its visitors. The community atmosphere at Golden West College means students will always have a travel partner when they get the itch to visit the big city.
Alumni
The gorgeous beaches, exciting night life and adventure-promising surf of Huntington Beach attract thousands each year. Golden West College benefits from this picturesque location and also boasts a phenomenal educational experience that has attracted several notable individuals who are now GWC alumni. Some of these individuals include:
Michelle Pfeiffer, actress
Vivica A. Fox, actress
Tito Ortiz, professional fighter
James McDonald, MLB pitcher
Golden West College
Additional School Information
Many students who attend Golden West College do not intend to secure a bachelor’s degree or other upper-level degree at a four-year institution. These students are taking advantage of Golden West College’s vocational programs. The vocational programs at this institution are designed to be both cost-efficient and highly effective for training students in a variety of crucial skills that will assist them in securing work after graduation.
The vocational programs may or may not result in the achievement of an associate’s degree. For example, the Criminal Justice Training Center at Golden West College prepares students for entry into a police academy or other public service institution. Here, students will take courses specifically designed to give them a leg up toward a career in public service or criminal justice. This program does not result in an associate’s degree. Instead, it allows a student to enter directly into a fulfilling career. The vocational training program courses serve many career paths including automotive maintenance, business management, cosmetology, florist management, computer and engineering, and much more.
Bibliography
Coast Community College District Home Page. CCCD, 2011. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.cccd.edu>.
Golden West College :: Huntington Beach, CA. Coast Community College District, 2011. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.gwc.info>.
Golden West College 2010-2011 Catalog. Costa Mesa, CA: CCCD, 2010. Print.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Golden West College?
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Huntington Beach, CA 92647-2710
p. 714-892-7711
w. www.goldenwestcollege.edu